If you like things in Cardiff done properly, you've come to the right place.
András' introduction into online design wasn't by chance.
At the age of thirteen, he bought scores of books on something just invented, called HTML – became captivated by a new industry – and began his inquiring fascination with everything Internet related. The year marked the beginning of what was then the new “World Wide Web” and he was such an early adopter, more than one-third of the people using the Internet at the time came from California. A year later he began to take on outside work whilst still in school, and even managed to get his first taste of earning an entrepreneurial income along the way.
At eighteen, with no qualifications or practical experience, he managed to convince a publishing house to employ him and take a chance. As lead designer for a chain of the country's largest automotive publications, it was here where he led a solid redesign for every magazine in the group. After making them profitable, within a year they commanded some of the largest Internet traffic in the sector. Companies like Audi and Land Rover invited few to their press events, little too did they expect a 19-year-old to be on the guest list.
Back then András Lengyel was merely an entity under which he conducted freelance business to select clients, in niche industries. Private game reserves, five-star hotels and highly-acclaimed wine estates constituted the subject of his work part-time whilst working at the firm.
He continued taking on small outside projects whilst working there, until – at just 20 years old – he was hired by the second-largest public company in South Africa, one listed on the London FTSE 100, as an advisor to one of their principal Intranet projects. After a thorough redesign of their corporate website, András finally had the background and the credibility needed to pursue larger clients he could then only aspire to work for.
The company negotiated and won a multi-year agreement with the sixth largest wine distributor in the world, Distell Group Limited, at a time when only two design agencies could be awarded the contract. Representing alcoholic brands such as Underberg, Bacardi, Amarula and London Dry Gin, and with an annual revenue in excess of £650 million, Distell then appointed András Lengyel to represent a superlative portfolio of class-leading, exclusive wine estates. Lengyel turned 22 later that year.
Another coup came with the win of client Areva NP, a corporation listed on the Paris Bourse CAC Mid 100. Providing power plants, research reactors as well as maintenance services to the nuclear industry, Areva offered him a change of pace from the niche brands he'd been so frequently used to dealing with. But it didn't take long before András would get back into the industry he was so unwilling to let go of: luxury.
Representing some 40 individual brands in six luxury sectors throughout the country, Manley Communications is a leading PR company based in Cape Town. Led by a tireless team, the agency found much in common with András Lengyel – they even shared some of the same clients. Celebrated hotels, award-winning spas, fine restaurants, hand-crafted wines and exquisite jewellery formed the cornerstone of their creative work for international and prestige brands. They immediately began working together, and András Lengyel set about providing their online requirements.
With no time to stand still, and more than 70 clients to his name in South Africa alone, András went on to setup operations in the United Kingdom. From there he leads a small design team in South Africa, and continues to win ever-admired accounts with wonderful people who are a true honour to work with.